Steam manifold for condensers



Oct. 22, 1968 J. STOKER 3,406,749

STEAM MANIFOLD FOR CONDENSERS Filed Feb. 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ROBERT J. STOKE/P fwd/K4 ATTORNEY STEAM MANIFOLD FOR CONDENSERS Filed Feb. 1, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WEE/qr J. 57mm ATTORNEY Oct. 22, 1968 STOKER 3,406,749

STEAM MANIFOLD FOR CONDENSERS Filed Feb. 2, 1967 3 heets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3

INVENTOR yr J. STU/(ER H6. 4

ATTORNEY United States Patent 0 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A condenser steam dome including a manifold constructed to minimize the piping necessary for conveying steam from the steam dome to auxiliary equipment such" as feedwater heaters. The manifold is formed fromva plurality of baffle elements which are arranged to define a plurality of chambers within the steam dome.

Background 0 the invention The present invention relates to condensers and has more particular reference to steam surface condensers of the type wherein a portion of the steam flowing into the condenser steam dome is diverted from the condenser to auxiliary equipment such as feedwater heaters, deaerators, auxiliary turbines, and the like. a

conventionally, electric power plants which employ a steam driven turbine include a boiler connected to supply steam to the turbine and a steam surface condenser connected to receive steam discharged by the turbine. The steam surface condenser and boiler are normally connected such that condensate or water discharged by the condenser is returned to the boiler for reconversion into steam. The eificiency of this apparatus has been found to be increased in those instances in which the water supplied by the condenser to the boiler is preheated by feedwater heaters prior to its introduction into the boiler and particularly when a portion of the steam discharged by the turdischarged from a turbine having extraction points arranged in pairs.

Another object is to provide a new and improved steam manifold of the type set forth which, although particularly adapted for discharging steam to feedwater heaters, may be employed for directing steam to other auxiliary equipment such as deaerators, auxiliary turbines, and the like.

Another object is to provide a new and improved steam manifold of the type set forth which, although relatively simple and economical in construction, is highly dependable and efiicient in operation.

The aforegoing objects, and those other objects and advantages of the invention which will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, are attained by the provision, in a condenser steam dome which includes a plurality of walls bine is employed as the heating medium in the feedwater heaters. Thus, in conventional apparatus of this type, the turbine normally includes a plurality of steam extraction points which are connected to the feedwater heaters by separate pipes extending through the condenser steam dome. These steam extraction points are frequently arranged in pairs, particularly in turbines of the double-exhaust type, as corresponding steam temperatures and pressures occur in the turbine symmetrically about the turbine inner casing transverse centerline.

The employment of separate pipes for conveying the steam from the extraction points, however, necessitates a substantial amount of extremely complex piping. The complexity of this piping, moreover, is substantially compounded by the need for expansion joints and, as the turbine extraction points are frequently arranged in pairs, the requirement that piping from corresponding extraction points he manifolded to a common conduit within the condenser steam dome. This complex piping is, of course, highly objectionable due to its high cost and the large amount of labor required for its installation. In addition, as this complex piping is conventionally located within the condenser steam dome, it frequently is sufficiently com plex and extended that it interferes with the steam flowing into the condenser through the steam dome and causes a substantial drop in the pressure of this latter steam.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved steam manifold which is particularly constructed and arranged to substantially minimize the necessity for the aforedescribed complex conventional piping.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved steam manifold of the type set forth which is particularly constructed and arranged for receiving steam defining a cavity and which is provided with a plurality of-inlet connections for supplying steam to'the cavity, of a new and improved steam manifold. The steam manifold comprises outer baifie means defining a closed compartment in the steam dome cavity and arranged to provide a steam fiow passage through the cavity external to this compartment. An inner bafile means is disposed in the compartment and divides the latter into a first manifold chamber which communicates with a first plurality of the inlet connections to receive steam therefrom, and a second manifold chamber which is closed from the first manifold chamber and communicates with a second plurality of the inlet connections for receiving steam therefrom. A first conduit means communicates with the first manifold chamber to receive steam therefrom and is arranged to convey such steam from the steam dome; and a second conduit means communicates with the second manifold chamber 'to receive steam therefrom and is arranged to convey such steam from the steam dome.

Brief description of the drawings Referring to the drawings: FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, elevational sectional view of an apparatus including a steam surface condenser having a steam dome which contains a steam manifold constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top or plan view of the steam surface condenser illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 in FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 in FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus comprising a double exhaust, downflow type turbine, shown fragmentarily as it), and a steam surface condenser, designated generally as 12, which is connected to the turbine lit to receive steam discharged by the latter. The steam surface condenser 12 includes a housing or shell containing a tube bundle 14, the tubes 16 of which are supported at their opposing ends by the tube sheets 18. A water box 20 is located at each of the longitudinal ends of the shell in communication with the tubes 16 such that cooling water may be directed longitudinally through the tubes 16 in a conventional manner. The condensate outlet (not shown) of the steam surface condenser 12 is connected through suitable conventional piping to feedwater heaters which, in turn, are suitably connected to discharge to the boiler supplying steam to the turbine 11).

The upper end of the shell of the steam surface condenser 12 supports the steam dome 22 of the steam surface condenser 12. The steam dome 22 comprises a plu- 3 1 rality of vertically extending walls 24 which cooperate to define an upwardly tapering cavity 28. The Upper ends of the walls 24 are connected to the outer casing 26 of the turbine such that steam discharged by the turbine 10 flows downwardly through the cavity 28 of the steam dome 22 into the shell of the steam surface condenser 12. The turbine in the conventional manner, is constructed to discharge steam adjacent each of its ends; that is, adjacent each of the walls of the casing 26 shown in FIG. 1. In addition, the turbine 19 includes a plurality of depending, steam extraction points or discharge conduits 30 and a plurality of battle plates 33 enclosing the discharge conduits 34) from the steam discharged adjacent the walls 26.

The steam dome 22 is provided with a plurality of inlet connections or conduits 32, 34 and a pair of bypass conduits 36, each of which conduits 32, 34, 36 is aligned with a respective one of the steam discharge conduits 38 and connected to its respective aligned steam discharge conduit 38 to receive steam discharged through the latter. The inlet conduits 32, more specifically, are four in number, arranged in opposed pair relationship, and connected to steam discharge conduits 30 conveying steam at substantially identical temperatures and pressures. The inlet conduits 34, similarly are four in number, arranged in opposed pair relationship, and connected to steam discharge conduits 30 conveying steam at substantially identical temperatures and pressures. The bypass conduits 36 are located between the opposed pairs of inlet conduits 32, 34 and connected to steam discharge conduits 30 conveying steam at substantially identical temperatures and pressures. The inlet conduits 32, 34, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, extend into the cavity 28. The bypass conduits 36 are manifolded to a common steam supply conduit 38 above the steam dome 22, the steam supply conduit 38 extending through the cavity 28 and projecting from the steam dome 22 through an opening 39 formed in one of the walls 24. The steam supply conduit 38 is suitably connected to a feedwater heater (not shown) external to the steam dome 22 to discharge its carrier steam to such feedwater heater.

The illustrated embodiment of the steam manifold which is provided by the present invention is particularly constructed and arranged to convey steam from the inlet conduits 32, 34 to feedwater heaters with only a minimal requirement for the location of conventional piping in the steam dome 22. The illustrated embodiment of the steam manifold, more specifically, comprises a first plurality of vertically disposed, inner baflle plate elements 40 which are welded or otherwise rigidly joined along their lateral edges in a box-like configuration. The baflle plate elements 40 are located within the cavity 28 of the steam dome 22 in spaced relationship to the walls 24 of the steam dome 22 such that they form the side Walls of a rectangular, first or inner, manifold chamber 42 which is centrally located in the cavity 28. The baflle plate elements 40 which form two opposing side walls of the inner chamber 42 each include a pair of openings or ports 44 and are connected to the inlet conduits 32 such that steam flowing through each of the latter passes into the inner chamber 42 through one of the ports 44. One of the battle plate elements 40 which form the other two opposing side walls of the inner chamber 42 includes an opening or port 46 which communicates with a feedwater heater steam supply conduit 48 connected to such one of the bathe plate elements 40. The feedwater heater steam supply conduit 48 projects from the cavity 28 through an opening 50 formed through one of the walls 24 of the steam dome 22 and is suitably connected to a feedwater heater (not shown) external to the steam dome 22 to supply steam to such feedwater heater.

A second plurality of vertically disposed, outer baflie plate elements 52 are welded or otherwise rigidly joined along their lateral edges such that the baflle plate elements 52 cooperate to form the side walls of a box-like structure 4 and enclose a compartment having a cross-sectional area greater than that of the inner chamber 42, but less than that of the cavity 23. The box-like structure formed by the baflie plate elements 52 is located within the cavity 28 such that the baflle plate elements 52 are positioned intermediate the baffle plate elements 49 and thewalls 24 of the steam dome 22 in spaced relationship thereto. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the baflle plate elements 40 and the baffle plate elements 52 cooperate to define a second or outer, manifold chamber 54 which extends peripherally around the inner chamber 42 coaxially with the latter; and the walls 24 and the baffle plate elemeents 52 cooperate to define a steam flow passage or duct 56 which extends peripherally around the outer chamber 54 coaxially with the latter. 4

The upper ends of the inner chamber 42 and the outer chamber 54 are closed by a common, horizontally extending bafile plate element 58 which is welded or otherwise rigidly connected to the upper ends of the'baflle plate elements 40, 52. The bafiie plate element 58 includes a pair of openings 60 on each of two opposing sides of the inner chamber 42, such openings 60 snugly receiving the inlet conduits 32 to permit the latter to pass through the outer chamber 54 intermediate their aforedescribed connections to the steam discharge conduits 30 and the baflle plate elements 40. The baffle plate element 58 also includes a pair of openings on each of the other two oppos-. ing sides of the inner chamber 42 and is suitably connected to the inlet conduits 34 such that each of the inlet conduits 34 discharges into the outer chamber 54 through one of these latter described openings. The lower ends of the inner chamber 42 and the outer chamber 54 are closed by a common, horizontally extending baffle plate element 62 which is welded or otherwise rigidly connected to the lower ends of the baffle plate elements 40, 52.

A low pressure, feedwater heater 64 extends longitudinally through the cavity 28 immediately below the inner and outer chambers 42, 54, respectively, and projects from the steam dome 22 through openings 66 formed through the walls 24 of the latter. The outer chamber 54 communicates through openings 68 formed in the bafiie plate element 62 with a plurality of vertically extending conduits 70 which discharge steam from the outer chamber 54 to the feedwater heater 64. The outer chamber 54 also communicates through openings 72 formed through opposing ones of the bafile plate elements 52 with vertically extending conduits 74 which discharge. steam from the outer chamber 54 to the feedwater heater 64. The conduits 70 and the portion of the feedwater heater 64 which is located immediately below the inner and outer chambers 42 and 54 are peripherally enclosed by baflle plates 76, to minimize the disruptive effect of the conduits 70 and the feedwater heater 64 on the portion of the steam flowing through the steam flow passage 56. The aforedescribed steam manifold is supported Within the steam dome 22 by a plurality of elongated brace elements 78 which are rigidly connected at their opposing longitudinal ends to the baflle plates 76 and the shell of the steam surface, condenser 12.

During the operation of the illustrated apparatus, the major portion of the steam discharged by the turbine 10, as shown by the arrows in FIGS. 1 and 4, flows through the steam flow passage 56 into the shell of the steamsurface condenser 12 where it is condensed intocondensate or water. The baflie plates 76, 80 deflect the steam flowing through the steam flow passage 56 to minimize the disruptive elfect of the conduits 70 and the feedwater heater 64 on the flow of this major portion of the steam. The portion of the steam discharged by the turbine 10 through the steam discharge conduits 30 into the bypass conduits 36 flows through the steam supply conduit 38 to a feedwater heater, external to the steam dome 22, Where it preheats the condensate discharged by the steam surface condenser 12 prior to the introduction of such steam into the boiler supplying the turbine 10. The portion of the steam discharged by the turbine through the steam discharge conduits into the inlet conduits 32 fiows into the inner chamber 42 from whence it is conveyed to a feedwater heater external to the steam dome 22 by the feedwater heater supply conduit 48. The portion of the steam discharged by the turbine 10 through the steam discharge conduits 30 into the inlet conduits 34 flows into the outer chamber 54 from whence it is discharged to the feedwater heater 64 and thereby conveyed from the steam dome 22.

From the aforegoing, it will be seen that I have provided new and improved means for accomplishing all of the objects and advantages of my invention. It will be understood, however, that, although the illustrated embodiment of my invention is shown as discharging steam to fcedwater heaters, it could alternatively be employed to supply steam to other auxiliary equipment such as deaerators, auxiliary turbines, and the like. It will also be understood, moreover, that, although I have hereinbefore specifically illustrated and described only one embodiment of my invention, my invention is not limited merely to this specifically illustrated and described embodiment but also contemplates other embodiments and variations employing the concepts and teachings of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a condenser steam dome including a plurality of walls defining a cavity and provided with inlet connections for supplying steam to said cavity, a steam manifold comprising:

outer baffle means disposed in said cavity defining therein a closed compartment and arranged to provide a steam flow passage through said cavity external to said compartment;

inner bafiie means disposed in said compartment dividing the latter into a first manifold chamber which communicates with a first plurality of the inlet connections to receiv steam therefrom and a second manifold chamber which is closed from said first chamber and communicates with a second plurality of the inlet connections for receiving steam therefrom;

first conduit means communicating with said first chamber to receive steam therefrom and arranged to convey such steam from the steam dome; and

second conduit means communicating with said second chamber to receive steam therefrom and arranged to convey such steam from the steam dome.

2. A steam manifold according to claim 1, further comprising:

said outer bafiie means being spaced from a wall of the steam dome to provide said steam flow passage intermediate said outer bafile means and a wall of the steam dome.

3. A steam manifold according to claim 2, further comprising:

said outer baflle means being spaced from the walls of the steam dome such that said steam flow passage peripherally surrounds said compartment intermediate said outer bafile means and the walls of the steam dome.

4. A steam manifold according to claim 3, further comprising:

said baffle means being arranged such that said second chamber extends intermediate said first chamber and 6 a wall of the steam dome on at least two sides of said first chamber.

5. A steam manifold according to claim 3, further comprising:

said baffie means being arranged such that said second chamber extends intermediate said first chamber and a wall of the steam dome on opposing sides of said first chamber.

6. A steam manifold according to claim 3, further comprising:

said baffle means being arranged such that said second chamber peripherally surrounds said first chamber.

7. A steam manifold according to claim 3, further comprising:

bafile means enclosing a portion of said conduit means for deflecting steam flowing through said steam flow passage from said conduit means.

8. A steam manifold according to claim 3, further comprising:

said outer baffle means being a plurality of plate e1ements arranged to form a box-like structure.

9. In a condenser steam dome including a plurality of walls defining a cavity and provided with a plurality of pairs of inlet connections communicating with said cavity for supplying steam to said cavity, a steam manifold comprising:

a plurality of outer bafiie elements disposed in said cavity and defining therein a closed compartment, said outer baffie elements being spaced from the walls of the steam dome to provide therebetween a steam flow passage which surrounds said compartmerit;

inner bafile means disposed in said compartment dividing the latter into a first manifold chamber which is centrally located in said cavity and communicates with a pair of the inlet connections for receiving steam therefrom, and a second manifold chamber which extends upon two sides a said first chamber and communicates with a pair of the inlet connections on each of said two sides of said first chamber;

first conduit means communicating with said first chamher to receive steam therefrom and arranged to convey such steam from the steam dome; and

second conduit means communicating with said second chamber to receive steam therefrom and arranged to convey such steam from the steam dome.

10. A steam manifold according to claim 9, further comprising:

said baflie means being arranged such that said second chamber peripherally surrounds said first chamber; and

baffle means enclosing a portion of said conduit means for deflecting steam flowing through said steam flow passage from said conduit means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,745,857 2/1930 Lucke 1651 14 2,328,045 8/1943 Worthen -95 2,663,547 12/1953 Evans et a1 1l2 3,151,461 10/1964 Sebald et al. 6095 X ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

A. W. DAVIS, Assistant Examiner. 

